That sounds about right. I had high hopes for Google-style targeted ads, but they don’t appear to the be panacea for sites that their increasing share of Internet advertising implies. They demand a huge volume of readers who are looking for something. This doesn’t describe the audience of most online publishers.

As Adam points out, most the AdSense advertisers were offering products (Mac systems) that Tidbits was already recommending readers buy from their primary sponsor.

There is still no substitute for a strong relationship with you sponsors.

Related

I don’t think of it as a latte a day. I think of it as paying my two Sirius Radio bills each month 😉
Very little work got me an extra $20/month for a hobby site. Not bad. Almost a “free lunch” which, as we all learned, shouldn’t exist!